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United States Patent |
5,560,458
|
Franklin
,   et al.
|
October 1, 1996
|
Wheeled luggage with selectively positionable maneuvering and carrying
handle and auxiliary luggage and handle restraint
Abstract
A handle and restraint assembly is for carries and maneuvering a main
luggage case having wheels. An extendable handle is moveable into a fully
extended position, a fully retracted position, and a selected intermediate
position. A restraint device is operatively connected to the handle to
selectively restrain the handle in the extended and retracted positions.
The restraint device includes a selectively extendable elongated flexible
belt by which to connect an auxiliary luggage case for carrying on the
main case. The elongated flexible element is extendable for connection to
the handle, and may restrain the handle in an intermediate position for
carrying the case or for pulling the case on the wheels. A first clutch
controls the extension, retraction and retention of the belt, and a second
clutch controls the extension, retraction and retention of the handle. The
first and second clutches are separately operable independently or they
are interconnected to operate simultaneously.
Inventors:
|
Franklin; Dana (Denver, CO);
Earl; Bonnie M. (Denver, CO)
|
Assignee:
|
Samsonite Corporation (Denver, CO)
|
Appl. No.:
|
184543 |
Filed:
|
January 21, 1994 |
Current U.S. Class: |
190/115; 16/113.1; 190/18A; 190/39; 190/102; 190/108; 280/37 |
Intern'l Class: |
A45C 005/14; A45C 013/30 |
Field of Search: |
190/18 A,102,115,117,39,108
280/37,655,655.1,47.29
16/115
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
627173 | Apr., 1901 | LeFevre.
| |
910288 | Jan., 1909 | Shaw.
| |
1084360 | Jan., 1914 | Rahm.
| |
1916793 | Jul., 1933 | Harper.
| |
2372845 | Apr., 1945 | Nelson.
| |
2581417 | Jan., 1952 | Jones.
| |
2707035 | Apr., 1955 | Lashley.
| |
3257120 | Jun., 1966 | Browning | 190/18.
|
3522955 | Aug., 1970 | Warner, Jr.
| |
3564590 | Feb., 1971 | Hebel.
| |
3606372 | Sep., 1971 | Browning.
| |
3895696 | Jul., 1975 | Urushibara.
| |
3958731 | May., 1976 | Riedle.
| |
4256320 | Mar., 1981 | Hager.
| |
4383141 | May., 1983 | Walker.
| |
4621404 | Nov., 1986 | Browning.
| |
4759431 | Jul., 1988 | King et al.
| |
4838396 | Jun., 1989 | Krenzel | 190/18.
|
4995487 | Feb., 1991 | Plath.
| |
5027874 | Jul., 1991 | Gazzola | 190/115.
|
5108119 | Apr., 1992 | Haung.
| |
5253739 | Oct., 1993 | King.
| |
5355980 | Oct., 1994 | Hsieh | 190/115.
|
Foreign Patent Documents |
2441358 | Jun., 1980 | FR.
| |
2676628 | Nov., 1992 | FR | 190/115.
|
729305 | Dec., 1942 | DE.
| |
215158 | Oct., 1993 | TW.
| |
WO93/19636 | Oct., 1993 | WO.
| |
9324029 | Dec., 1993 | WO | 190/18.
|
Other References
Advertisement-Leerblad, Sept. 1993, p. 96.
|
Primary Examiner: Weaver; Sue A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: O'Connor; Gregory W., Baker; Rod D.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A handle and restraint assembly for carrying and maneuvering a main
luggage case having wheels, comprising:
a handle connected to the case which is selectively extendable into a
maximally extended position, a fully retracted position, and any
intermediate position between the maximally extended position and the
fully retracted position, the handle including a handpiece for gripping
the handle to carry the case and to maneuver the case on the wheels;
means for selectively restraining the handle in the maximally extended
position in which to maneuver the case on the wheels; and
a restraint device for selectively maintaining the handle in any
intermediate position for carrying the case, said restraint device
comprising:
means for frictionally preventing the handle from retracting from any
intermediate position;
an elongated flexible element having a first end connected to the case and
a second end attachable to the handle, said flexible element extendable to
intermediate positions between a completely retracted position and a
completely extended position;
means for releasably attaching the second end of the elongated flexible
element to the handle; and
clutch means, comprising roller means and pawl means, for selectively
clamping the elongated flexible element between said roller means and said
pawl means to prohibit the extension of the elongated flexible element in
any intermediate position when the second end of the flexible element is
attached to the handle.
2. An assembly as defined in claim 1 useable in connection with an
auxiliary luggage case wherein:
the extendable elongated flexible element is wrapped at least partially
around an element of the auxiliary luggage case, whereby the auxiliary
luggage case may be connected to the main case when maneuvering the main
case on the wheels.
3. An assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for releasably
attaching the second end of the elongated flexible element to the handle
comprises:
a receptacle in the handle; and
hook means receivable in the receptacle and attached to the second end of
the elongated flexible element.
4. An assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the clutch means for
selectively clamping further comprises:
first lever means, operably connected to the pawl means and pivotable
outward away from the main luggage case, for controlling contact of the
pawl means with the elongated flexible element.
5. An assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein the means for selectively
restraining the handle in the maximally extended position comprises:
a sleeve member upon the handle;
a shaft upon the case;
a second lever means, pivotable about the shaft, for controlling extension,
retraction, and retention of the handle; and
a restraint member protruding from the second lever means and selectively
engageable with the sleeve member.
6. An assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein:
the clutch means for selectively clamping and the means for restraining the
handle in the maximally extended position are separately operable to
independently control the extension, retraction, and retention of the
elongated flexible element and the handle, respectively.
7. An assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein:
the first lever means further comprises a lip and the second lever means
further comprises an extension member, and the lip and the extension
member are optionally contactable to cause the clutch means for clamping
and the means for restraining the handle the maximally extended position
to simultaneously control the extension, retraction, and retention of the
elongated flexible element and the handle, respectively.
8. A handle and restraint assembly for carrying and maneuvering a main
luggage case having wheels, comprising:
a rod selectively extendable from and retractable into the luggage case to
any intermediate position between a maximally extended position and a
fully retracted position;
a handpiece attached to the rod;
means for frictionally preventing the handle from retracting from any
intermediate position;
an elongated flexible belt selectively extendable and retractable to a
completely extended position, to a completely retracted position, or to
any intermediate position between the completely retracted position and
the completely extended position, said belt capable of carrying the weight
of the main luggage case and having a first end and a second end, said
second end connected to the main luggage case;
hook means for releasably attaching the first end of the flexible belt to
the handpiece; and
clutch means, comprising roller means and pawl means, attached to the case
for selectively clamping the elongated flexible belt between said roller
means and said pawl means to prohibit the flexible belt from extending to
the completely extended position, the rod thus being held by the belt in
an intermediate position when the first end of the belt is attached to the
handpiece and the clutch means is clamping the belt.
9. An assembly as defined in claim 8, wherein:
the belt passes through the clutch means, and the clutch means is
selectively engageable against the belt to fix the length of extension of
the belt and is disengageable from the belt to allow the belt to retract
and extend.
10. An assembly as defined in claim 8, further comprising:
means, attached to the main luggage case and to the second end of the belt,
for selectively storing the belt in the retracted position and dispensing
the belt to the extended position; and
a spring means, attached to the storage means, for retracting the belt onto
the storage means when the clutch means is not clamping the belt,
regardless of whether the belt is attached to the handpiece.
11. An assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein the roller means comprises:
a star roller having a cylindrical shape, longitudinal axial indentations,
and is freely rotatable about a longitudinal axis; and
the pawl means comprises an elongated pawl selectively engageable and
disengageable from any of the axial indentations, wherein the belt passes
between the star roller and the pawl to become pinched between the pawl
and the star roller when the pawl and roller are engaged, fixing the
extension length of the belt, and wherein when the pawl is disengaged from
the star roller the belt freely passes between the star roller and the
pawl.
12. An assembly as defined in claim 11, further comprising:
a belt release lever attached to the pawl and pivotally attached to the
main luggage case;
spring means for biasing the belt release lever toward the main luggage
case to engage the pawl with the star roller; and
wherein the belt release lever is pivotable away from the main luggage case
to disengage the pawl from the star roller to allow the belt to extend or
retract.
13. An assembly as defined in claim 12, wherein:
the means for biasing comprises a constant force spring.
14. An assembly as defined in claim 13, wherein:
the storage means comprises a take-up roller.
15. An assembly as defined in claim 12, further comprising:
means, attached to the luggage case, for releasably restraining the rod in
the maximally extended position.
16. An assembly as defined in claim 15, wherein the means for releasably
restraining the rod in the maximally extended position comprises:
a handle release lever pivotally attached to the luggage case;
a restraint sleeve attached to the rod;
a restraint member attached to the handle release lever;
means for biasing the handle release lever toward the main luggage case;
and
wherein the restraint member extends inwardly from the handle release lever
and engages the restraint sleeve when the rod is in the maximally extended
position, to hold the handpiece in a maximally extended position to allow
the user to use the handpiece to push the luggage case on the wheels.
17. An assembly as defined in claim 16, wherein:
the restraint member automatically disengages from the restraint sleeve
when the handle release lever is pivoted away from the luggage case,
thereby allowing the rod to retract and move the handpiece from the
maximally extended position to a retracted position.
18. A handle as defined in claim 16, wherein:
the first end of the belt passes through a handle of an auxiliary luggage
case and is attached to the handpiece to suspend the auxiliary piece of
luggage from the belt and support the auxiliary piece of luggage against
the main luggage case for transportation.
19. An assembly as defined in claim 17, wherein:
the restraint sleeve contacts the luggage case when the rod is in the
maximally extended position so that a user may grip the handpiece and
therewith pull the luggage on the wheels without attaching the first end
of the belt to the handpiece.
20. An assembly as defined in claim 17, further comprising:
a lip disposed upon the belt release lever; and
an extension member disposed upon the handle release lever;
wherein the lip is engageable with the extension member such that each time
the handle release lever is pivoted, the lip contacts the extension member
and the belt release lever is pivoted to allow the handpiece and rod
concurrently to retract from the maximally extended position; and
wherein the belt release lever is pivotable independently of the handle
release lever to allow the belt to retract or extend independently of the
extension or retraction of the rod.
21. An assembly as defined in claim 17, wherein the hook means comprises
a hook attached to the first end of the belt; and wherein said assembly
further comprises
a slot in the luggage case to receive the hook when the hook is not
selectively attached to the handpiece.
22. A handle and restraint assembly for carrying a main luggage case,
comprising:
a rod having a first end adapted to be selectively extended from and
retracted to the main luggage case;
a handpiece attached to a first end of the rod for movement between a
maximally extended position and a fully retracted position;
means for frictionally preventing the rod from retracting to the main
luggage case;
a belt selectively extendable and retractable to a completely extended
position, to a completely retracted position, or to any intermediate
position between the completely retracted position and the completely
extended position, said belt capable of carrying the weight of the main
luggage case and having a first end adapted to be selectively attached to
the handpiece and a second end connected to the main luggage case;
means for attaching the first end of the belt to the handpiece; and
means, comprising roller means and pawl means, attached to the case for
selectively clamping the belt between said roller means and said pawl
means in any intermediate position to prevent the extension of the rod
when the clutch means is clamping the belt and the first end of the belt
is attached to the handpiece, so that a user can lift the handpiece and
carry the luggage case suspended from the belt.
23. A handle and restraint assembly for carrying and maneuvering a main
luggage case having wheels, comprising:
a handle, connected to the case, which is selectively extendable into a
fully extended position, a fully retracted position, and any selected
intermediate position between the fully extended and the fully retracted
positions, the handle including a handpiece for gripping the handle to
maneuver the case on the wheels;
a recess in the handpiece;
an elongated flexible belt, comprising a first end connected to the case
and a second end;
a hook connected to the second end of the belt and engageable with the
recess; and
clutch means, attached to the case and comprising roller means and pawl
means, for clamping the belt between the roller means and the pawl means
when the handle is in the fully retracted position and the hook is engaged
with the recess, to restrain the belt in a fully retracted position.
24. An assembly as defined in claim 23 wherein the belt is wrappable around
at least a portion of an auxiliary luggage case, to connect the auxiliary
case to the main case when the handle is in the fully extended position.
Description
This invention relates to wheeled luggage and more particularly, to a new
and improved assembly of a maneuvering and carrying handle and an
auxiliary luggage attachment and handle restraint which allows the handle
to be extended to selective different lengths for carrying or maneuvering
the luggage and which allows the auxiliary luggage to be attached for
transportation on a face panel of the main luggage as it is maneuvered on
its wheels.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
one of the most popular recent conveniences in the field of wheeled luggage
is exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,431, assigned to the assignee
hereof. This type of luggage includes a luggage case with wheels aligned
on a common axis along one bottom edge of the case. An extendable pull
handle is connected to the case. The user extends and grasps the pull
handle, levers the case into a position where only the wheels touch a
support surface, and pulls the case on its wheels by the extended handle.
With the case levered into this rolling position, much of the weight of
the case is balanced over the wheels so very little effort on the handle
is required to maintain the case in the rolling position. The wheels
withstand most of the weight, and it is very easy to move the case.
Because the wheels are located along a common rotational axis at one
bottom edge of the case, the case is also very maneuverable. After pulling
the case on its wheels, the pull handle is inserted or retracted into the
case.
A conventional carrying handle separate from the pull handle is available
to carry the case in the conventional manner, rather than roll it on its
wheels. When carrying the case, the pull handle is retracted to allow the
case to be carried with the weight of the case and its contents suspended
from the carrying handle in the conventional manner.
Rolling the case on its wheels and carrying the case while suspended from
the carrying handle are essentially two separate functions. The carrying
handle must support the weight of the case and its contents and do so in a
way that maintains the balance of the case so that it can be easily
suspended at the side of the person carrying it. In order to balance the
case for carrying, the carrying handle must be located at the top of the
case. The carrying handle must also be connected internally to a frame
structure capable of supporting the weight of the case and its contents.
On the other hand, the pull handle is not intended for lifting the case,
but is extended only to maneuver the case on its wheels. The pull handle
must be sufficiently extendable and have a substantial enough connection
and interaction with the case to allow the case to be tilted or levered
onto its wheels, to maintain the case in the position over the wheels, and
to direct the case by pulling it. The pull handle should also have enough
strength to allow the case to be maneuvered up and down stairs and over
street curbs. For these and other reasons, the pull handle is typically
located on the side of the case above the wheels and is connected
integrally enough with the case to transfer the levering force throughout
the case.
Connecting the pull handle to the case in this manner is easier in a
hard-sided luggage case than a soft-sided luggage case. In a hard-sided
case, the relative rigidity of the case shells or halves comprise part of
the internal structure to support, lever and pull the case by both the
carrying handle and the pull handle. However, in soft-sided cases, the
flexible exterior panels offer little or no structural integrity, and
therefore an internal frame structure must be provided. The internal frame
structure can be somewhat extensive in order to adequately accommodate a
carrying handle, a separate pull handle and the wheels. Generally, the
internal frame structure in soft-sided cases requires structural members
around the internal periphery of the bag to support the weight of the bag
from the carrying handle. Structural members are also required along one
of the major exterior face panels of the case to connect to and support
the pull handle. In some cases, the added complexity of the internal frame
structure to provide both carrying and wheeled pulling capability
substantially diminishes the advantages of lighter weight and flexibility
associated with soft-sided luggage.
Perhaps one of the most important conveniences of wheeled luggage using an
extendable pull handle has been the incorporation of an auxiliary luggage
carrying capability. To obtain this capability, the auxiliary luggage is
attached to the wheeled main luggage case and is supported on an upward
facing exterior face panel of the tilted main luggage case when it is
pulled on its wheels. The typical attachment technique involves extending
a hook, strap or belt around the carrying handle of the auxiliary case to
suspend it against the upward tilted exterior face panel of the main
luggage case while the main case is pulled on its wheels.
Most of the auxiliary luggage attachment mechanisms described in U.S. Pat.
No. 4,759,431 are functionally associated with the extendable pull handle.
An attachment strap is connected to the pull handle and is exposed by the
extension of the pull handle from its retracted position. The attachment
strap is placed through the carrying handle of the auxiliary luggage, and
then connected back to the pull handle near the point where the user
grasps the pull handle. Thus, the pull handle must be extended to attach
the auxiliary luggage.
If the attachment strap is not used to connect to auxiliary luggage, it is
placed or folded into a middle portion of the pull handle. It is also
necessary to place or fold the attachment strap into the middle portion of
the pull handle when retracting the pull handle back into the interior of
the case. Attempts to retract the pull handle with the attachment strap
extended therefrom and connected to auxiliary luggage can cause obvious
difficulties inconsistent with the intended operation.
Furthermore, the extension of the attachment strap from near the extended
end of the pull handle to the carrying handle of the auxiliary luggage
case may result in reduced stability of the auxiliary luggage, possibly
making it difficult to maintain the position of the auxiliary luggage on
the main case as the case rolls over uneven terrain. Furthermore, it may
also be difficult to attach the auxiliary case to the main case when the
pull handle is extended.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,431 also discloses an embodiment where the pull handle
is separate from an exposed auxiliary attachment belt. The exposed
attachment belt lacks the appeal and utility of the combined pull handle
and attachment belt because the attachment belt is always exposed and
poses the possibility of disconnecting from the case when not in use. Use
of the separate attachment belt may also become inconvenient because of
its lack of integrated functionality with the pull handle.
It is with respect to these considerations and others associated with
wheeled luggage cases having an extendable pull handle and auxiliary
luggage attachment capability that the present invention has evolved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Some of the important features of the present invention include improving,
simplifying and making more convenient, the use of a wheeled luggage case
having a selectively extendable and retractable pull or maneuvering handle
and a restraint to attach auxiliary luggage to the case and to support the
auxiliary luggage case on an exterior upturned face panel of the main
luggage case. More specifically, the important features of the present
invention involve allowing the auxiliary luggage to be attached to the
case without extending or using the pull or maneuvering handle, using a
single handle as both a carrying handle and a pull handle, permitting the
handle to be extended a selected amount intermediate of its maximally
extended position to either pull or carry the case, and selectively fixing
the extendable and retractable handle in the best position for a
particular user to pull the luggage case on its wheels.
Some of the important features of the present invention include improving,
simplifying and making more convenient, the use of a wheeled luggage case
having a selectively extendable and retractable pull or maneuvering handle
and a restraint to attach auxiliary luggage to the case and to support the
auxiliary luggage case on an exterior upturned face panel of the main
luggage case. More specifically, the important features of the present
invention involve allowing the auxiliary luggage to be attached to the
case without extending or using the pull or maneuvering handle, using a
single handle as both a carrying handle and a pull handle, permitting the
handle to be extended a selected amount intermediate of its maximally
extended position to either pull or carry the case, and selectively fixing
the extendable and retractable handle in the best position for a
particular user to pull the luggage case on its wheels.
To achieve these and other important aspects, the present invention relates
to a new and improved handle and restraint assembly for carrying and
maneuvering a main luggage case having wheels. A handle is connected to
the case and is selectively extendable into a fully extended position, a
fully retracted position, and a selected intermediate position between the
fully extended and the fully retracted positions. The handle includes a
handpiece for gripping the handle to carry the case and to maneuver the
case on the wheels. A restraint device is operatively connected to the
handle to selectively restrain the handle in the fully extended position
in which to maneuver the case on the wheels and in a intermediate position
for carrying the case. The restraint device is also capable of selectively
restraining the handle in an intermediate position for pulling the case on
the wheels. The restraint device may include a selectively extendable
elongated flexible element for connecting an auxiliary luggage case to the
main case to carry the auxiliary case on the main case when maneuvering
the main case on the wheels. The elongated flexible element is extendable
for connection to the handle, and may restrain the handle in an
intermediate position for carrying the case or for pulling the case on the
wheels. A first clutch mechanism may be operatively connected to the
elongated flexible element for controlling extension, retraction and
retention of the elongated flexible element, and a second clutch mechanism
may be operatively connected to the handle for controlling extension,
retraction and retention of the handle. The first and second clutch
mechanisms are separately operable to independently control the extension,
retraction and retention of the elongated flexible element and the handle,
respectively, or they are interoperatively connected to simultaneously
control the extension, retraction and retention of the elongated flexible
element and the handle, respectively.
To achieve the above and other important aspects, the present invention
relates to a new and improved method of carrying and maneuvering a main
luggage case having wheels. The method involves connecting a handle to the
case to for moving to a fully extended position, to a fully retracted
position, and to a selected intermediate position between the fully
extended and the fully retracted positions. The method also involves
restraining the handle in the fully extended position and maneuvering the
case on the wheels while the handle is restrained in the fully extended
position, restraining the handle in a selected intermediate position and
carrying the case by the handle while the handle is restrained in the
intermediate position, and restraining the handle in the fully retracted
position when not carrying the case and maneuvering the case on the
wheels. The case may also be maneuvered or pulled on the wheels while the
handle is restrained in the selected intermediate position. An elongated
flexible element may be selectively extended from the case, connected to
an auxiliary luggage case, and the auxiliary case carried on the main case
when maneuvering the main case on the wheels. The elongated flexible
element is connected to the handle to restrain the handle in an
intermediate position for carrying the case or for maneuvering the case on
the wheels. The extension, retraction and retention of the elongated
flexible element is controlled by restraining the flexible element, and
the extension, retraction and retention of the handle is controlled by
restraining the handle. The extension, retraction and retention of the
elongated flexible element may occur independently of or simultaneously
with the extension, retraction and retention of the handle.
A more complete appreciation for the various improved aspects and features
of the present invention, the nature of the present invention itself, and
the scope of the present invention can be obtained from the following
drawings which are briefly summarized below, from the following detailed
description of a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, and from
the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wheeled luggage case incorporating an
assembly of a selectively positionable maneuvering and carrying handle and
an auxiliary luggage attachment and handle restraint device in accordance
with the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the assembly of the
handle and restraint device shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a partial end elevational view of the luggage case shown in FIG.
1, with the maneuvering and carrying handle in a partially extended
position similar to that shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view similar to that shown in FIG. 1, taken from
the opposite perspective and showing the case on its wheels, illustrating
the pull handle and restraint device connected together and in an
intermediate extended position for pulling the case.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the luggage case shown in FIG. 1,
illustrating the handle in a fully extended position and the restraint
device in an independent fully retracted position.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 5 illustrating the extension
of a belt of the restraint device to connect a piece of auxiliary luggage
to the main luggage case.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the luggage case shown in FIG. 6, taken
from an opposite perspective, showing the main case on its wheels, the
auxiliary luggage case supported on the main case, and connection of the
auxiliary luggage case to the main luggage case by the belt of the
restraint device.
FIG. 8 is a partial section view with a portion broken out off the main
luggage case, taken substantially in the plane of line 8--8 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 9 is a partial side elevational view, with a portion broken out, of
the handle and restraint device shown in FIG. 8.
FIG. 10 is a partial section view taken substantially in the plane of line
10--10 of FIG. 5.
FIG. 11 is a partial section view taken substantially in the plane of line
11--11 of FIG. 9.
FIG. 12 is a partial section view with a portion broken out, taken
substantially in the plane of line 12--12 of FIG. 9.
FIG. 13 is a partial sectional view similar to a portion of FIG. 12, taken
substantially along section line 13--13 in FIG. 6, showing the restraint
device holding the handle in its maximally extended position.
FIG. 14 is a partial sectional view similar to FIG. 13 taken substantially
along section line 14--14 in FIG. 2, showing the release by the restraint
mechanism of the handle to allow it to retract.
FIG. 15 is a partial section view taken substantially in the plane of line
15--15 of FIG. 8.
FIG. 16 is a section view taken substantially in the plane of line 16--16
of FIG. 15.
FIG. 17 is a section view taken substantially in the plane of line 17--17
of FIG. 15.
FIG. 18 is a section view taken substantially in the plane of line 18--18
of FIG. 17.
FIG. 19 is a section view taken substantially in the plane of line 19--19
of FIG. 15, illustrating the restraint of the restraint device to prevent
the belt from extending.
FIG. 20 is a section view similar to FIG. 19 illustrating the release of
the restraint device to allow the belt to extend.
FIG. 21 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the major elements of
the restraint device shown in FIGS. 15 to 20.
FIG. 22 is a partial perspective view of an optional feature of the handle
of the assembly shown in FIGS. 8, 9, 11, 12 and 21.
FIG. 23 is a partial section view through a portion of FIG. 22,
illustrating one condition in solid lines and another condition in partial
phantom.
FIG. 24 is a partial section view similar to FIG. 23, illustrating another
position of the elements shown in FIG. 23.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present invention is embodied in an assembly 30 of a selectively
extendable and retractable maneuvering and carrying handle 32 and an
auxiliary luggage attachment and handle restraint device 34, as is shown
generally in FIGS. 1-3. For convenience, the improved and interactive
assembly 30 will be referred to herein as a handle and restraint assembly
30.
The handle and restraint assembly 30 is preferably housed in a cassette 36.
The cassette 36 is connected to a major external face panel 38 and a top
side 40 of a main luggage case 42. Wheels 44 are attached to the case 42
at an edge defined by the intersection of the exterior face panel 38 and a
bottom side 46 of the case 42. The wheels 44 are positioned on the case 42
to rotate about a common rotational axis, preferably one extending
transversely between ends 48 and 50 of the case.
The case 42 may be either of the conventional hard-sided construction
having two relatively rigid external shells which face one another and are
hinged together along the bottom side 46, or of a soft-sided construction
(not shown) utilizing relatively flexible exterior panels for the face
panels, sides and ends. In a soft sided construction the cassette 36 and
the wheels 44 are operably connected to an interior frame structure which
provides support for the case including the flexible exterior panels.
The maneuvering and carrying handle 32 is selectively extendable from the
cassette 36, as is shown in FIGS. 2-4. With the handle 32 in an extended
position, the case 42 is levered onto its wheels 44 to a rolling position
by a user gripping the extended handle 32. The degree of tilting or
levering of the case 42 preferably places the majority of the weight of
the case over the wheels 44. Tilted in this manner, very little effort is
required by the user to maintain the case over the wheels 44. The user
then pulls on the extended handle to move the case on its wheels along a
support surface.
The handle and restraint assembly 30 allows the handle 32 to be selectively
extended a relatively small distance, such as that shown in FIGS. 2 and 3
and used in this position as a carrying handle for lifting and suspending
the case. When the handle 32 is used as a carrying handle, a belt 52 with
a hook 54 at its outer end extends from the restraint device 34 in the
cassette 36 to the handle 32 and restrains the handle from further
extension. Restrained in this manner, the application of lifting force on
the handle 32 allows the case 42 and its contents to be lifted and
supported by the handle 32.
Normally the belt 52 of the restraint device 34 will be connected to the
handle 32, even when the handle 32 is in the fully retracted position
shown in FIG. 1. In the retracted position, the restraint device 34
prevents the inadvertent extension of the handle 32 as might otherwise
occur during handling of the case 42. Alternatively, the belt 52 can
remain in the retracted position when the handle 32 is in the extended
position. A slot 55, as shown in FIG. 10, is formed in the cassette 36
into which the hook 54 can be inserted and connected to maintain the hook
54 in a retracted position regardless of the extended position of the
handle.
To extend the handle 32, a belt release lever 56 must be pivoted by the
user, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. Pivoting the belt release lever 56
releases the belt 52 of the restraint device 34 to allow the belt to
extend from or retract into the cassette 36. As soon as the desired
extended position is achieved, the belt release lever 56 is released, and
further extension of the belt 52 from restraint device 34 is prohibited.
Similarly, in order to retract the belt 52 into the restraint device 34
from an extended position, the belt release lever 56 is again lifted or
pivoted. With no restraint on the belt 52, it will retract into the
cassette 36, as shown in FIG. 5, by operation of the restraint device 34.
A handle release lever 58 is also connected to the exterior of the cassette
36 and functions to hold the handle 32 in a fully extended position and to
release the handle from the fully extended position. In the fully extended
position, the restraint device 34 operably contacts rods 60 which extend
from and retract into the cassette. The rods 60 are connected at their
outer end to a handpiece 62, thus completing the handle 32. The operable
contact between the restraint device 34 and the handle rod 60 is
maintained until the handle release lever 58 is pivoted upward as shown in
FIG. 2. Upon pivoting the handle release lever 58, the operable retention
established by the restraint device 34 and transmitted to the handpiece 62
by the belt 52 and the hook 54 is also released, because pivoting the
handle release lever 58 also pivots the belt release lever 56. With the
belt release lever 56 pivoted in conjunction with the handle release lever
58, the restraint supplied by the restraint device 34 through the belt 52
is terminated.
The independent operation of the handle 32 and restraint device 34 by
lifting the release levers 56 and 58 advantageously allows the belt 52 to
be extended selectively and independently for the convenience of easily
attaching an auxiliary luggage case 64 as shown in FIG. 6. The auxiliary
luggage case 64 is placed next to the main luggage case 42, and the belt
52 is extended through a carrying handle 66 of the auxiliary case 64.
Either before or after the extension of the belt 52, the handle 32 is
extended to its maximally extended position. Once the belt 52 has been
extended through the carrying handle 66, the hook 54 is connected to the
handpiece 62 in the manner shown in FIG. 7. With the auxiliary luggage
case 64 connected in this manner, with the belt 52 and the handle 32 in
their extended position, the main luggage case 42 is levered onto its
wheels 44 to lift both the auxiliary case 64 and the main luggage case 42
and to support the auxiliary case 64 on the upturned tilted exterior panel
68 of the case 42 while the case is pulled on its wheels 44 by the handle
32. The belt 52 can be selectively retracted into the cassette 36 when no
auxiliary luggage is attached or connected and the handle 32 is in the
maximally extended position, as shown in FIG. 5.
Details concerning the handle 32 of the handle and restraint assembly 30
are best understood by reference to FIGS. 8-14 and 21. The handpiece 62
includes a center grasping portion 70 which is located over the top side
40 at a position generally near the center of the case. With the grasping
portion 70 located in this manner, the case is in a relatively balanced
condition when the user grasps the handpiece 62 to lift the case and carry
it by the handle 32.
An attachment portion 72 of the handpiece 62 includes a rectangularly
shaped socket 74 into which the upper ends of the rods 60 are retained,
preferably by pins 76 (FIG. 21). Near the middle of the attachment portion
72, a receptacle 78 (FIG. 21) is formed. The receptacle 78 is shaped to
receive the hook 54 attached to the end of the belt 52. The hook 54
connects to and is received within the receptacle 78. To release the hook
54 from the handpiece 62, or from the slot 55, a flap 80 (FIG. 10) on the
outer end of the belt 52 is grasped by the user to lift the hook 54 off of
the receptacle 78 or out of the slot 55.
A rectangularly shaped restraint sleeve 82 is attached to the lower end of
each of the rods 60, preferably by a pin 84 (FIGS. 9 and 21). The
restraint sleeves 82 interact with a restraint member 86 attached on the
inner side of the handle release lever 58, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 12-14.
With the handle 32 in the retracted position shown in FIGS. 9 and 12, the
restraint member 86 contacts the exterior surface of the rods 60. When the
handle 32 is extended to its maximally extended position, the restraint
sleeves 82 ride over the restraint members 86 and the restraint members
extend beneath the restraint sleeves 82 as shown in FIG. 13, thereby
restraining the handle 32 in the maximally extended position.
To release the handle 32 from the maximally extended position, the handle
release lever 58 is pivoted outward as shown in FIG. 14. In this pivoted
position the restraint members 86 move away from the bottom of the rods 60
and the restraint sleeves 82, thereby releasing the mechanical connection
of the restraint device 34 to the handle 32, and allowing the handle to
move to the retracted position.
Each rod 60 is retained for movement within a tube 88, as shown in FIG. 11.
Each tube 88 is formed in a general rectangular configuration of a size
slightly larger than the exterior size of the restraint sleeves 82.
Consequently the restraint sleeves 82 and the rods 60 can move along the
length of the tubes 88. The tubes 88 are part of an internal structural
component 90 of the cassette 36. The structural component 90 and the tubes
88 extend along the exterior face panel 38 on the interior of the case 42.
On the inside of the case, a fabric or other suitable covering 92 hides
the structural component 90 and other elements of the cassette 36 from the
user's view. In soft-sided luggage cases, the structural element 90 may
form an important integral portion of the internal frame structure
necessary to support the exterior flexible panels in such soft-sided
luggage.
Each tube 88 includes an upper portion 94 having a rectangular
cross-sectional shape which is slightly larger than the rectangular
cross-sectional size of the rods 60, but not as large as the rectangular
cross-section of the restraint sleeves 82, as shown in FIGS. 12-14.
Consequently, the restraint sleeves 82 contact the upper portions 94 to
prevent the handle from extending beyond its maximally extended position
(FIG. 13). In this position, the restraint member 86 on the handle release
lever 58 also contacts the bottom of the restraint sleeve 82, thereby
rigidly fixing the handle 32 in its maximally extended position. Since the
handle 32 cannot move further outward or inward in this position, the main
luggage case 42 can easily be pushed by pushing on the handle 32 as well
as being pulled in the conventional manner.
The restraint sleeve 82 and the tubes 88 may optionally include a resilient
tab 91 and detents 93 and 95, as shown in FIGS. 22-24. The resilient tabs
91 on each restraint sleeve 82 extend inwardly toward the restraint sleeve
82 on the other rod 60. The detents 93 are formed in the tubes 88 at a
position to receive the tabs 91 when the handle 32 is in a fully extended
position (FIG. 23). The detents 95 are formed in the tubes 88 at a
position to receive the tabs 91 when the handle 32 is in a fully retracted
position. The engagement of the resilient tabs 91 with the detents 93 and
95 assist in securing the handle 32 in the maximally extended and fully
retracted position, respectively.
Shoulders 97 are formed in the tubes 88 below the upper detents 93 and
above the lower detents 95. The shoulders 97 cause the tabs 91 to compress
inwardly as shown in FIG. 24 when the restraint sleeves 82 move into
adjacency with the shoulders 97. The added force from compressing the tabs
91 to move them from the detents 93 and 95 over the shoulders 97 creates
an additional force to maintain the position of the handle 32. However the
added force from compression of the tabs 91 can be overcome with
reasonable manual effort when retracting or extending the handle from the
fully extended and fully retracted positions.
The tabs 91 also engage the sidewall of the tubes 88 with a frictional
force when the handle is in an intermediate position between the fully
extended and the fully retracted positions, as shown in phantom in FIG.
23. In the intermediate positions the tabs 91 experience a lesser amount
of compression compared to that shown in FIG. 24. However the tabs 91
create an adequate amount of frictional force with the tubes 88 to
maintain the rods 60 and handle 32 in a free standing intermediate
position between the fully retracted and extended positions. This
frictional force in the intermediate position alleviates the problem of
the handle 32 and rods 60 retracting into the cassette 36 under the weight
of the handle or from some other small force. As discussed below, the
contact of the restrain member 86 with the rods 60 also contributes to or
achieves sufficient frictional force to retrain the handle 32 in the
intermediate positions.
Details concerning the restraint device 34 of the assembly 30 are best
understood by reference to FIGS. 8 and 15-21. The primary components of
the restraint device 34 are located behind an exterior of the cassette 36,
generally in the vicinity of the intersection of the external face panel
38 and the top side 40 of the case 42, as well as behind the belt release
lever 56 and handle release lever 58. The major components of the
restraint device 34 include the belt 52, a belt take-up roller 96 upon
which the belt 52 is coiled in both the extended and retracted positions
of the belt, a belt clutch mechanism 98 which operably controls the
extension and retraction of the belt 52 by allowing it to extend and
retract and to restrain it in position, the belt release lever 56 which
interacts with and forms a part of the belt clutch mechanism 98 to
establish a free movement condition and a restrained condition of the
belt, a handle clutch mechanism 100 (FIG. 13) which includes the handle
release lever 58, the restraint member 86 formed on the back side of the
handle release lever and the restraint sleeve 82 attached to the lower end
of each rod 60 of the handle 32.
As is shown in FIG. 15, the back side of the cassette 36 includes a number
of partitions, walls and other structural elements to position and hold
the major components of the restraint device 34. These partitions, walls
and other structural elements are formed generally between the tubes 88.
The belt take-up roller 96 is formed generally as a drum which is rigidly
connected to a center shaft 102. A roller pulley 104 is also connected to
the shaft 102 at a position adjacent to the roller 96. The pulley 104 is
fixed to rotate with the shaft 102 and the take-up roller 96.
A pivot shaft 106 extends generally parallel to the shaft 102. A pivot
shaft pulley 108 is rotationally connected on the pivot shaft 106 in
transverse alignment with the pulley 104. The pivot shaft pulley 108 is
free to rotate about the shaft 106. An elongated spring member 110 is
connected at its ends and is counter wound around the roller pulley 104
and is forwardly wound around the pivot shaft pulley 108, respectively. As
is shown in FIG. 16, the spring member 110 is wound in a clockwise
direction around the pivot shaft pulley 108. The spring member 110 is bent
in a permanent spring deformation to normally coil in the clockwise
direction around the pivot shaft pulley 108, as shown in FIG. 16. When the
spring member 110 is wound around the roller pulley 104, the direction of
coiling is also in the clockwise direction, but is in a reverse or counter
wound manner compared to the spring deformation of the spring member 110.
The roller pulley 104, pivot shaft pulley 108, and spring member 110
configuration form a constant force spring.
As a consequence of the spring deformation of the spring member 110, the
pivot shaft pulley 108 will normally attempt to rotate in the clockwise
direction as shown in FIG. 16. The roller pulley 104 will normally attempt
to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, and while doing so rotate the
belt take-up roller 96 with it. With the belt take-up roller 96 normally
biased by the spring member 110 to rotate in the counterclockwise
direction as shown in FIG. 17, the belt 52 will normally coil on the
roller 96 in a manner to retract. This retraction occurs when the belt
clutch mechanism 98 allows the belt to coil on the roller 96. The spring
member 110 provides the tension force necessary to bias the belt 52 into
and toward retraction.
The spring member which is forwardly wound around the pivot shaft pulley
108 and which is reverse wound around the roller pulley 104 creates a
substantially constant tension force when the belt clutch mechanism 98 is
released. The constant spring force achieved by the pulleys 104 and 108
and the spring member 110 is a convenience to the user as the belt is
extended, since the same force is required to extend the belt both a
slight distance as well as a greater distance. In addition, the belt may
be retracted with a relatively constant force.
The belt clutch mechanism 58 includes a star shaped roller 112 which
extends parallel to the shafts 102 and 106. The star roller 112 is allowed
to freely rotate on a center shaft 113, and rotates in conjunction with
the movement of belt 52, which extends over the star roller 112. Axially
extending indentions 114 are formed in the exterior surface of the star
roller 112 to give it the star shaped appearance in cross-section.
A pawl 116 extends from the belt release lever 56 at a position to contact
the belt 52 and force the belt into one of the indentions 114, when the
belt release lever 56 is in a non-pivoted position as shown in FIGS. 17
and 19. The belt release lever 56 is connected to and pivots about the
shaft 106. The location of the end of the pawl 116 relative to the center
shaft 113 and the axis of rotation of the star roller 112 forms an
off-center restraint, as shown in FIG. 19. Since the star roller 112 will
normally rotate in the counterclockwise direction as shown in FIG. 19, and
because the end of the pawl 116 which contacts the belt in the axial
indentions 114 is located rotationally prior to a centerline between the
shaft 106 and the center shaft 113, further attempts to extend the belt 52
will result in increased restraint of the pawl against the star roller
112. In this manner the star roller 112, the pawl 116 and the belt release
lever 56 cause the belt clutch mechanism 98 to restrain the belt 52
against further extension. It is a result of this feature of the belt
clutch mechanism 92 that allows the handle 32 to function as a carrying
handle for the case. The belt clutch mechanism 92 sustains all of the
weight of the case and its contents which is transferred through the belt
52 to the handpiece 62.
Although the off-center arrangement of the pawl 116 in the indentions 114
is primarily effective for restraining further extension of the belt 52,
it is also effective in preventing retraction of the belt. The deformation
of the belt 52 by the pawl 116 into one of the indentions 114 provides a
sufficient force to inhibit retraction. However, the retraction restraint
force is not nearly as effective or substantial as the restraint applied
against extension of the belt.
To release the restraint applied on the belt 52, the belt release lever 56
is pivoted outward as shown in FIG. 20. In the pivoted position shown in
FIG. 20, the end of the pawl 116 is withdrawn away from the belt 52 and
out of the indentions 114 in the star roller 112. In this unrestrained
condition, the belt 52 can be extended or retracted against the force
applied by the spring member 110.
A pair of braces 118 extend inwardly from the exterior of the cassette 36
as shown in FIG. 17. The braces 118 each have an arcuate end 119 shaped to
follow in close clearance to the exterior round surface 121 of the take-up
roller 96. The braces 118 guide the belt 52 during retraction and
extension to help insure proper alignment while being reeled onto or off
of the take-up roller 96. The braces 118 also act as supports by abutting
the exterior surfaces 121 of the take-up roller 96 when the force applied
from the belt 52 onto the roller 96 is substantial. The arcuate shaped
ends 119 of the braces 118 engage the edges 121 and minimize the
deflection of the take-up roller 96 when the roller 96 is slightly
deflected in position.
The handle release lever 58 is also pivotally connected about the shaft
106. The handle release lever 58 includes an outward extension 120 which
contacts a back surface of a lip 122 formed on the lower end of the belt
release lever 56, as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20. As a consequence, when a
lip 124 of the lever 58 is gripped and pulled outward, the extension 120
also contacts the lip 122 of the lever 56, causing both levers 56 and 58
to pivot outward simultaneously. Since the belt clutch mechanism 98 is
released to allow the belt to withdraw when the handle release lever 58 is
pivoted outward (FIG. 2), it is assured that the belt 52 will retract into
the cassette 36 at the same time that the handle 32 is retracted. Thus,
there is no possibility that the handle 32 will retract when the belt 52
does not, unless the belt 52 is specifically restrained against such
retraction.
The belt release lever 56 is positioned within an opening 126 formed in the
handle release lever 58, as shown in FIG. 9. Positioning the lever 56 in
the opening 126 of the lever 58 thus allows both levers 56 and 58 to pivot
about the shaft 106. A depression 128 is formed in the handle release
lever 58 at a position below and behind the lip 122 on the belt release
lever 56 (FIGS. 19 and 23). The depression 128 allows the fingertips of
the user to be inserted behind the lip 122 to pivot the belt release lever
56.
Similarly, a clearance 130 is formed in the exterior surface of the
cassette behind and below the lip 122 at the bottom end of the handle
release lever 58. The clearance 130 allows the fingertips of the user to
be inserted therein to contact the lip 124 and pivot the handle release
lever.
The handle clutch mechanism 100 is established by the handle release lever
58 and the restraint member 86 formed on the back of the release lever 58
opposite the depression 128. A separate restraint member 86 contacts each
of the restraint sleeves 82 attached to the bottom of each rod 60, when
the handle 32 is in its maximally extended position (FIG. 13). When the
handle release lever 58 is pivoted outward, the restraint member 86 moves
away from and clears the restraint sleeve 82 to allow the rods 60 of the
handle 32 to be retracted into the tubes 88, as shown in FIG. 14.
The release levers 56 and 58 are held in a non-pivoted position by bias
springs 132 and 134 respectively. Each bias spring includes a center coil
portion 136 which surrounds the shaft 106. The ends of a lower arm portion
138 extending from each of the center coil portions 136 of the bias
springs 132 and 134 are connected respectively to the belt release lever
56 and the handle release lever 58, preferably by screws 140. Upper arm
portions 142 which extend from the center coil portions 136 of each bias
spring 132 and 134 are connected to a rigid projection 144. The projection
144 is connected to a fixed structural partition 146 of the cassette 36.
The manner in which the arm portions 138 and 142 are deflected by the coil
portions 136 cause the release levers 56 and 58 to be biased toward the
clockwise position as shown in FIGS. 16, 17 and 19. However, the force
applied from the bias springs 132 and 134 is not sufficient to prevent the
user from conveniently pivoting the release levers 56 and 58.
When the handle 32 is extended to any position less than maximum extension,
the bias force on the handle release lever 58 from the spring 134 causes
the restraint members 86 to frictionally engage the sides of the rods 60
with enough restraint force to keep the handle 32 from retracting into the
cassette 36 under the weight of the handle and rod. Thus the frictional
force from the contract of the restrain members 86 with the rods 60
supplements the force from the slightly compressed tabs 91.
From the foregoing description, it is apparent that the assembly 30 of the
handle 32 and restraint device 34 offers numerous advantages with respect
to the extension and retraction of a single carrying and maneuvering
handle and with respect to the extension and retraction of the auxiliary
luggage attachment belt 52. Because the restraint device 34 allows the
handle to be selectively positioned at intermediate locations between its
retracted and maximally extended position, the handle 32 can be used as a
carrying handle. The shape of the handpiece 62 positions the grasping
portion 70 near a central location of the case to allow it to be balanced
while carried by hand. The intermediate extended positions of the handle
allow the user to conveniently adjust the handle to an optimal length
short of its fully extended position while pulling the case on its wheels.
When the handle 32 is in its maximally extended position, the belt 52 can
be connected to it or it can be released to its retracted position. With
the handle in its maximally extended position, the restraint device fixes
the position of the handle so that the case can be maneuvered by either
being pulled or pushed on its wheels.
The independent release and control of the attachment belt allows the to be
extended and connected to the auxiliary luggage without the necessity of
extending the handle. However, once the handle is extended and the hook
end of the belt is connected to the handle, the position of the auxiliary
luggage on the exterior upturned face of the main luggage case can be
adjusted by taking up excess slack in the belt, and the belt clutch
mechanism restrains the luggage in that position. Both the attachment of
the auxiliary case and its support on the main case are facilitated by the
independent control over the extension and retraction and the restraint of
the belt 52. The use of two separately operable yet interconnected release
levers 56 and 58 allows complete control over both the handle 32 and the
belt 52 in all of the retracted and extended positions which they may
assume.
A presently preferred embodiment of the invention and its many improvements
and features have been described with a degree of particularity. This
description is of the preferred example for implementing the invention.
The scope of the invention should not necessarily be limited to this
description, but instead should be defined by the scope of the following
claims.
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